Chikmagalur, May 9: The announcement could not have come from a better person. The Kudremukh wildlife sanctuary will have its own tiger reserve along with Biligiri Ranga (B R) Hills in Chamarajanagar district in the state.

This was disclosed here on Sunday by none other than the Chikmagalur-born union minister for the enviroment Jairam Ramesh. Being the district of his birth, he definitely may have felt proud to take this step. He added that preparations are already on to formally declare Kudremukh as a tiger reserve. This will take the present number of reserves in the state to six, from the present four.

He had a special word of praise for the state's scientists and officials in tiger conservation. He said that it had been revealed in the tiger census the presence of 350 tigers in the state. Even in 2006, Karnataka had stood first in tiger population.

He further said that 300 families from Kudremukh and 1,300 families from Nagarahole were being relocated, adding that it would be done only if they were willing to move.

He also said that he had pointed out to the state's chief minister that the mining activity was proving to be a hazard to the wildlife and forests and urged him not to allow mining in reserve forests.